Suction box for paper-making machines



Oct. 22, 1929. G. s. CARROLL SUCTION BOX FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed Aug. 22, 1928 JjVVENTORr" ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 22, 1929 GEORGE S. CARROLL, F WILLIMANSETT, MASSACHUSETTS SUCTION BOX FOR PAPER-MAKING MACHINES Application filed August 22, 1928. Serial No. 301,332.

In the Fourdrinier machines used in the manufacture of paper, suction boxes are employed over which the Fourdrinier wire passes, operating to remove a large proportion of the water from the stock. In the use of these suction boxes, the fibre from the paper is deposited in them, requiring them to be cleaned at regular intervals. In prior installations of this character, it has been necessary to dismount the suction boxes from the Fourdrinier machine in order to clean it, an operation which consumed a large amount of time and was very disadvantageous for this reason.

One object of my invention is to provide a suction box of this character which can be cleaned without requiring its removal from the Fourdrinier machine. A further object is to provide a suction box which can be cleaned without breaking any packed joints which form an active part of the suction box. A further object is to provide a compact suction box assembly capable of ready cleaning and easily adjustable to limit the width of the suction box in active use. Other and further objects will appear from the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly broken away of a suction box embodying my invention, only one end of the suction box being shown;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 41 is a detail'on an enlarged scale of certain parts shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevation of a portion of the box shown in Fig. 1. Y

The suction box constructed in accordance with my invention is composed of a channel member and a top plate 11 perforated throughout its surface with holes 12 over which the Fourdrinier wire passes. The

top plate is preferably united to the chan-- nel member by means of any suitable packing (not illustrated) and is held in position by screws 13. As it is not desirable to disturb a packed oint once formed, the top plate and the channel member are, in accordance with my invention, left assembled permanently during the normal use of the apparatus as permanently attached. A pipe 14;, leading to any suitable source of suction, leads intothe chamber 15 formed by the channel member and the top plate. 1

lVithin the chamber 15 are a pair of expansible packings 16. Since Figs. 1 and 2 show only one-half of the suction box, only one of these packings appears in the drawings. It will be understood, however, that a similar packing is positioned on the other side of the machine in substantially the same relative position. Associated with each packing are wedges 17 and 18 which when compressed together force the packing'outwardly into tight engagement with the walls of the chamber 15. Wedge 17 has a threaded extension 19 upon which is screwed a nut 20. Preferably this nut is held in engagement with a wedge 18 by clips 21 (shown;- in Fig. 1) and engaging a suitable shoulder on the nut.

In orderto operate the packings from the outside of the suction box, rods 22 are provided one at each side of the machine. The inner end of each of these rods bears a cross piece or vane 23, this vane engaging a slot 24 in the nut 20. At a point slightly removed from the end of the nut, this slot is widened as at 25 so that when the vane 23 is rotated into the enlargement at one side of the opening in the slot the previously contracted packing can be loosened and shifted longitudinally in the chamber in either direction. The packing can then be tightened by rotating the nut by means of the rod. The rod passes through a stufiin'g box 26 fastened to an end plate 27 which is removably attached to the channel member 10 by studs 28. A handle 29 at the outer end of each rod is furnished for convenience in turning it. I

When it is desired to clean the suction box, the'packings 16 are contracted by rotating the nuts 20 in a direction to support the wedges 17 and 18. The studs 28 are then removed so as to free the end plates 27. The end plates, the stuffing boxes 26, the rods 22, and the packing assemblies including the packing wedges and nuts, are then removed and will therefore be referred to from opposite ends of the suction chamber. Any suitable cleaning tool may then be inserted through the ends of the casing, which is completely unobstructed from one end to the other. It will be noted that in removing the packing, it is unnecessary to loosen any suction-tight joint between the two packings so: that no active portion of the suction chamber is disturbed during the cleaning. Thisis'of importance in maintaining a tight condition of the suction box at all times. After the cleaning has been completed, the parts are again placed within the chamber, the studs 28 replaced and the packings adjusted to the width desired.

' What I claim is:

1'. A suction box for a F ourdrinier ma chine which comprises a channel member, a

perforated top plate permanently connected thereto, an expanding packing within the chamber formed by the channel member and the'top plate and adapted to limit the width oftop plate to which the suction is applied, a rod 'coacting with-the packing to expand it andto shift its position, and a plate sealing the end of the chamber and removable therefrom to permit the rod and packing to be withdrawn therefrom and thereby aflord access tothe chamber for cleaning without removing the top plate.

2; A suction box for a Fourdrinier machine which comprises a channel member, a perforated" top plate permanently connected thereto, a pair of expanding packings within" the chamber formed by the ob annel'member'a'nd the top plate and adapted to limitthe width oftop plate to which suction is applied, oppositely disposed wedges grasping each packing" for expanding it' when drawn-togetlier, a nut threade'dtoone-wedge ofeach-set and bearingagainstthe other wedge of that set, rod engagi'ng the nuts to turn'them and-to shift thecontracted pack ing lbngitudinally of the chamber, and end plates 're'movably secured to' the ends of'the channel member and through which the rods pass, whereby upon contracting the paekings and removing the end plates the rods,- packings, wedges and nuts may be removed fIOIIL the chamber to permitcleaningthere- O In testimony whereof-1' have aflixed my signature.

GEORGE S. CARROLL.- 

